Governance body offers support to the academy sector

London, 16 September 2016 – ICSA: The Governance Institute is to hold its inaugural governance conference for the academy sector in London on Tuesday 4 October, offering support to those schools looking for assistance when creating new governance structures, roles and lines of accountability after conversion.

“Following Parliamentary concerns over multi-academy trust (MAT) performance and accountability, the ICSA Academy Governance Conference aims to provide delegates with the tools to evaluate their school governance framework, benchmark their existing structure, and discuss the fundamental governance principles that will help to deliver educational aims and objectives to an even higher standard,” says Peter Swabey, Head of Policy and Research at ICSA: The Governance Institute.

Keynote speaker Mike Sheridan HMI, Regional Director for London at Ofsted will be revealing what Ofsted is looking for in terms of leadership and management. Education expert Robert Hill will also be providing a keynote address on the subject of how to build legitimacy for academy governance. Other speakers include:

Roger Inman, Partner and Head of Education at Stone King who will be considering where the power lies when a school becomes part of an MAT

Kirsty Watt, Head, Academy Ambassadors will be focusing on governor and trustee skills and how to build the right board

Mark Blois, Chair of Governors and National Leader of Governance, L.E.A.D. Academy Trust and Partner and Head of Education, Browne Jacobson will be looking at the core questions academy boards of trustees should be asking themselves when evaluating their performance

Colin Diamond CBE, Executive Director for Education, Birmingham City Council will be considering the new role of local authorities.

The conference will be chaired by Bill Watkin, Chief Executive, Sixth Form Colleges Association.

ICSA: The Governance Institute is the professional body for governance. We have members in all sectors and are required by our Royal Charter to lead ‘effective governance and efficient administration of commerce, industry and public affairs’. With 125 years’ experience, we work with regulators and policy makers to champion high standards of governance and provide qualifications, training and guidance.Website: www.icsa.org.uk